Google Buzz purchased Slide, an virtual community application development site, leading to speculation that Google is trying to expand further into the social networking arena.

Reports of the amount Google paid for Slide varied, with TechCrunch putting the deal at US$182 million and the New York Times

pegging it at US$228 million.

Slide's products, some of which are used on Myspace and Facebook, include SuperPocus Academy of Magic, SuperPoke, Pets, Top Fish, and SPP Range. The company's website states that its products allow community-based distribution of virtual goods. Mark Levchin, who co-founded PayPal, is the founder of Slide.

Though Google and Slide refused to respond to requests for comment, TechCrunch reports that an official announcement will likely occur Friday.

The acquisition comes after Google Buzz, an attempt at social networking, raised the ire of Gmail users due to worries about the privacy of their contact lists. Google's other social networking site, Orkut, is only popular in certain regions of the world.

The purchase of Slide and reports that Google has invested in Zynga, the creators of Farmville on Facebook, have fueled speculation that Google is eying social networking through development of a game-based platform.